Improvement in electric gas-lighters



ALMON NQALLEN & RODNEY H. DEWEY.

improvement in Eiectric Gas Lighter Patented Nov. 28,1871.

L M /f/ angm UNITED STATES PAT FFICE.

ALMON N. ALLEN AND RODNEY H. DEWVEY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,308, dated November 28, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALMON N. ALLEN and RODNEY H. DEWEY, of Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts. have invented a new and Improved Electric Gras-Lighter; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the acconr panying drawing forming part of this specification, in which drawing Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of our electric gas-lighter. Fig. 2 is a side view of the mechanism which we use for liberating the spring-power that forms a part of our apparatus.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the arrangement of a galvanic battery in a lamp-post, in combination with an elastic diaphragm which is actuated by the pressure of air or gas, and which controls the admission of gas to the burner in such a manner that whenever the said diaphragm is actuated the circuit through the battery is closed and the gas issuing from the burn er is ignited.

In the drawing, A designates a lamp-post, which supports a spheroidal or lentil-shaped case, B, that contains an elastic or flexible diaphragm, O. The case B communicates, by means of chan nels a a, with the gas-pipe D, which passes up through the post A and connects with the gasmains in the usual manner. From the bottom of the case B rises a pipe, E, which connects with the burner F, and on this pipe is fitted a sleeve, Z), which is clamped to the diaphragm 0, and which, when said diaphragm is down, covers a hole, 0, in the pipe E. If gas is admitted to the pipe 1) the diaphragm, together with the sleeve, are forced up, the hole 0 in the pipe E is uncovered, and the gas passes up to the burner. Over the burner extend two tongues, d d, and one of these tongues connects, by a wire, 10, with one pole of a battery, G, situated in the bottom part of the post A. The other pole of this battery connects, by a Wire, 11, with the sleeve Z), and if this sleeve is raised by the action of the gas on the diaphragm 0 it comes in contact with a wire, 6, that connects with the tongue at. This tongue receives a vibrating motion by means of a lever, j, actuated by a spring-power which is liberated whenever the sleeve 1) is raised, the connection between said sleeve and the springpower being of such a nature that the ratchet-wheel which imparts to the lever f the required vibrating motion is permitted to make one revolution or only part of a revolution.

In Fig. 2 we have shown the mechanism which may be used to connect the sleeve with the spring-power. In this iigure H designates the barrel containing the spring. From this barrel motion is transmitted to the shaft 4., on which is firmly mounted a cam, j, while the ratchetwheel 75 turns loosely thereon. The motion of the spring-arbor is also transmitted to an arbor, l, which carries the tappet-wheel m that actuates the lever On the shaft v5 swings a lever, n, which carries a pawl, 0, that engages with the teeth of the ratchetwheel k, and the loose end of said lever connects, by a rod, 1), with an arm extending from the sleeve 1). The cam j catches up against a stop, g, which drops down between the teeth of the ratchet-wheel it. When the sleeve 1) rises the ratchetwheel is propelled for one tooth, and thereby the stop q is raised so as to liberate the cam j, and with it the springpower, but as soon as the cam j has completed one revolution it catches up again against the stop (1 and the spring-power is arrested. Vhen the spring-power is liberated the tappetwheelm imparts to the lever f, and through it to the tongue (2', the required vibrating motion.

\Nhen gas is admitted to the case B the diaphragm U is raised, the gas passes up to the burner, and at the same time the spring-power is liberated; the tongue d is alternately brought in contact with the tongue (Z and then removed therefrom, and, by the sparks produced whenever the tongue d recedes, the gas issuing from the burner is ignited.

The battery G may be placed in a vault dug beneath the lamp-post to prevent it from iieezing; or the bottom part of the lamp-post may be so constructed that it protects the battery against frost.

controls the admission of gas to the burner, and the mechanism for opening and closing the circuit of the galvanic battery, substantially in the manner herein shown and described.

ALMON N. ALLEN. R. H. DEWEY.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS A. HALL,

SAM. S. CURTIS. (50) 

